Long season continues for George

United's 2014/15 campaign may have ended earlier this month, but for George Long his season is about to hit the business end as he continues his loan stint in Scotland with Motherwell.

The 21-year-old stopper, who last week was offered a new deal at Bramall Lane, moved north in January to ply his trade at Fir Park until the end of the campaign.

A 2-1 defeat at St Mirren on Saturday, means 'Well will now face a play-off in a bid to stave off relegation from the top-flight north of the border, but, as George reveals, his loan has been a success personally.

He commented: "I'm a better player, definitely, than before I came up here. I've been able to get so much experience, on and off the pitch, which is good.

"The biggest thing has probably been my consistency levels. They're really up and I'm pleased with that.

"Even just moving away from home, living somewhere else and getting used to another club has been valuable. It's been great to get that at such a young age too."

George says it is 'different' type of pressure playing for the Steelmen rather than the Blades, but he insists it is one he has relished in recent months, knowing United's coaching staff have been monitoring his progress throughout his loan stint.

He added: "Pressure wise, it's different. At United, it was about promotion battles whereas, as everybody knows, Motherwell are in a different position in the SPL.

"The pressure from the outside changes depending on whether you're in a promotion or relegation battle.

"As a player, though, you try to approach every game the same way and with the same focus. So that's the trick, being able to do exactly the same thing and prepare in the same way even though what's going on around you is different."

"United have always kept in touch which is brilliant for me to know.

"Darren Ward (United's goalkeeping coach) rings me up a lot to ask how things are going and I know he's always keeping tabs on how I've been performing and what's happening around the club."